If Maidenhead United’s time in the Vanarama National League is up this season, then Alan Devonshire’s side will depart with some fond memories.
That fear though was very much on the back-burner as Shawn McCoulsky scored the only goal of the game in Greater Manchester as the Magpies beat Oldham Athletc 1-0.
A textbook Devonshiring then. Promotion chasing Oldham, a Premier League side briefly in the 1990s with Paul Scholes as their celebrity fan, unbeaten in six but perhaps just vulnerable enough against a Maidenhead side buoyed by four points from the last two games including a win over Southend United and draw with Hartlepool.
McCoulsky it was then with the goal on 64 minutes. Described by the Magpies social media feed as “Abrahams plays a lobbed through ball onto McCoulsky, who wins the one-on-one with the defender. Our #9 takes his time, calmly slots the ball past Donaghy, and United take the lead!”
Results around Maidenhead went their way as well, Aldershot Town lost 2-1 at Southend United while AFC Fylde were beaten 2-1 by Boston United.
The Magpies are four points clear of the drop zone now with Yeovil Town next up at home on Saturday.
Dare they Devonshire again?
Around the county, Reading City pulled off a decent result themselves, drawing 2-2 with promotion chasing Amersham Town while Binfield and striker Mitch Parker beat Hartley Wintney 2-0 and Woodley United defied their ‘bottom of the table’ status to beat Langley 3-1 at The Rivermoor.